Cubs tie World Series, Indians hope to ride Corey Kluber

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 26: Aroldis Chapman #54 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates with Ben Zobrist #18 after defeating the Cleveland Indians 5-1 in Game Two of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field on October 26, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) less

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 26: Aroldis Chapman #54 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates with Ben Zobrist #18 after defeating the Cleveland Indians 5-1 in Game Two of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field on ... more

Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

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Chicago Cubs fans celebrate at Progressive Field after Game 2 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Cleveland Indians Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, in Cleveland. The Cubs won 5-1 to tie the series 1-1. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) less

Chicago Cubs fans celebrate at Progressive Field after Game 2 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Cleveland Indians Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, in Cleveland. The Cubs won 5-1 to tie the series ... more

Photo: David J. Phillip, Associated Press

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Chicago Cubs designated hitter Kyle Schwarber reacts after hitting an RBI single in the fifth inning against the Cleveland Indians during Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, at Progressive Field in Cleveland. The Cubs won, 5-1, to even the series. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/TNS) less

Chicago Cubs designated hitter Kyle Schwarber reacts after hitting an RBI single in the fifth inning against the Cleveland Indians during Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, at Progressive ... more

Photo: Brian Cassella, TNS

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CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 26: Trevor Bauer #47 of the Cleveland Indians is relieved by manager Terry Francona during the fourth inning in Game Two of the 2016 World Series against the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field on October 26, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) less

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 26: Trevor Bauer #47 of the Cleveland Indians is relieved by manager Terry Francona during the fourth inning in Game Two of the 2016 World Series against the Chicago Cubs at Progressive ... more

Photo: Jason Miller, Getty Images

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CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 26: Zach McAllister #34 of the Cleveland Indians is relieved by manager Terry Francona during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs in Game Two of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field on October 26, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) less

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 26: Zach McAllister #34 of the Cleveland Indians is relieved by manager Terry Francona during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs in Game Two of the 2016 World Series at ... more

Photo: Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

Cubs tie World Series, Indians hope to ride Corey Kluber

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There’s a decent reason to root for seven games in a throwback World Series that’s educating generations about baseball, America and life back in the day.

It’s not merely about pushing the season to the limit for selfish reasons or milking the nostalgia angle to its fullest, both perfectly fine motives to pull for a seven-game series.

It’s more about necessity, and Indians manager Terry Francona is all about necessity, especially after his team fell to Jake Arrieta, Kyle Schwarber and the Cubs 5-1 on Wednesday night in Cleveland. The World Series is tied at one win apiece heading to Wrigley Field on Friday.

Francona has committed Game 1 winner Corey Kluber to start Game 4 and, if necessary, Game 7. Nobody from the Indians’ analytics department needed to tell Francona it’s the wise choice. Common sense dictates this decision, and it’s a doozy.

The old-school approach to World Series managing is back, and Francona isn’t second-guessing himself. His No. 2 pitcher, Trevor Bauer, lasted 32/3 innings Wednesday and needed a whopping 87 pitches to get that far. Josh Tomlin is the No. 3 pitcher, earning wins in each playoff round without reaching six innings, and there was no other clear-cut candidate for Game 4.

Photo: Jason Miller, Getty Images

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 26: Jason Kipnis #22 of the Cleveland Indians is safe at second base after hitting a double to break up a no-hitter by Jake Arrieta #49 of the Chicago Cubs (not pictured) during the sixth inning in Game Two of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field on October 26, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 26: Jason Kipnis #22 of the Cleveland...

Danny Salazar? Appeared in relief Wednesday, his first appearance since Sept. 9. Ryan Merritt? Has thrown just 151/3 innings in his big-league career. So it’s Kluber on three days’ rest, meaning Bauer and Tomlin also are targeted to pitch the fifth and sixth games on short rest — unless Salazar replaces the struggling Bauer.

It’s the only way. If it goes the distance, Kluber would become the first pitcher to start Games 1, 4 and 7 in a World Series since Curt Schilling (Diamondbacks) in 2001, then Jack Morris (Twins) in 1991 and Ron Darling (Mets) in 1986, all three pitchers helping their teams win championships.

John Tudor in 1985 was the last pitcher to start 1, 4 and 7 for a losing team, the Cardinals. Bob Gibson did it twice, his Cardinals winning the World Series in 1967 and losing it the following year.

Of course, that’s a long way off for Kluber. The Cubs could celebrate their first championship since 1908 by winning out in Wrigley or closing out the Series next week in Cleveland. It would help if they won Kluber’s Game 4 start, though, and until further notice, he’s the postseason’s premier pitcher: four starts, 241/3 innings, 29 strikeouts, 0.74 ERA, 0.986 WHIP.

Even if Kluber continues to do his job, the Indians would need another win along the way. Bauer hasn’t proved anything this month, lasting just nine innings in three starts and bailing from his only ALCS inning because of his drone-related finger injury. It’s why Tomlin’s start Friday is so vital. He’ll oppose Kyle Hendricks, who won the major-league ERA crown.

“One, some guys have gotten hurt. Two, we still wouldn’t have done it if we didn’t think it was the right thing to do,” Francona said in a Wednesday news conference, explaining his three-man rotation. “Part of that is the workload the starters have had lately hasn’t really been … this has been Kluber’s least amount of pitches this month.

“When they’re winning, we go to the bullpen, and if they’re losing, we take them out. So I think they’re all situated to handle it.”

In a far cry from the Indians’ 6-0 win in Game 1, they did not lead in Game 2 and, therefore, did not use the game’s best reliever, Andrew Miller, who threw 46 pitches in the opener. Arrieta pitched hitless ball until Jason Kipnis’ one-out double in the sixth. Kipnis scored Cleveland’s only run on an Arrieta wild pitch.

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Schwarber had two run-scoring singles, one on a 3-0 count, the latest stunning performance by Kid Comeback. He doubled Tuesday in his first game since undergoing his double-ligament knee surgery in April, and now the question is whether the Cubs will stick him in the outfield Friday when the designated-hitter rule doesn’t apply.

The Indians need to clean up their act by then. Kipnis made two errors at second base, and right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall threw to the wrong base to permit the first run and later fell down pursuing a ball. Also, Cleveland pitchers issued eight walks.

The Cubs won a World Series game for the first time since 1945, and Francona took his first career Series loss (he’s 9-1 dating to his Boston days). Now we go to Wrigleyville, where the Cubs will continue pursuit of their first championship in 108 years and the Indians will seek their first title in a mere 68.